Waste disposer with stopper actuated switch



Feb. 4, 1969 J. H. ENRIVGHT ET AL 3,425,637

WASTE DISPOSER WITH STOPPER ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Sheet 0f 5 INVENTO2$ Jnmss H. ENE/6H7 CHFFELES A. W/C/(E' ATTORNEY? Feb. 4, 1969 J. H. ENRIGHT ET AL 3,425,637

WASTE DISPOSER WITH STOPPER ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Sheet 3 of 5 ames H. ENE/6H7" I Cameus; A. W/cKE 4 7 I I Feb. 4, 1969 J. H. ENRIGHT ET AL 3,425,637

WASTE DISPCSER WITH STOPPER ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Sheet of 5 ATTO ENEI? United States Patent 3,425,637 WASTE DISPOSER WITH STOPPER ACTUATED SWITCH James H. Enright and Charles A. Wicke, Racine, Wis., as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Emerson Electric Co.,

St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,364

US. Cl. 241-325 Claims Int. Cl. B02c 19/12, 23/00; B02b 7/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The batch-type Waste disposer disclosed herein has a cylindrical throat portion and a somewhat wider comminuting chamber body with a cylindrical wall radially offset from the throat. The body and throat are connected by a shoulder which forms right angle corners with the body wall and throat. A plastic cam track carrying sleeve is inserted in the throat. It has an upper portion directly supported by the throat Wall and a downwardly projecting portion spaced radially from the body wall. A support ring is disposed in the gap between the chamber wall and the downwardly projecting portion of the sleeve insert to bridge the gap therebetween and brace the plastic sleeve insert to maintain its cylindrical shape. The switch of the batch-type disposer is actuated by a stopper having a two-stage closure or valve and earns which actuate the switch in both directions of stopper rotation.

Background of the invention United States Patents 2,917,246 and 2,961,172 show prior art waste disposers with stopper actuated switches and cylindrical plastic cam track inserts. Such waste disposers have comminuting chambers with relatively thick and heavy cast metal walls which are in direct contact with the plastic insert throughout its height, thus to directly support the insert. Such prior art plastic sleeve inserts are not adaptable for use in waste disposers having thin walled comminuting chambers, such as those made of stainless steel and in which there is a relatively narrow throat and a relatively wider body portion of the chamber which are interconnected at a corner. In such waste disposers the corner leaves the bottom part of the insert exposed and without effective lateral support.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the present invention, the sleeve 0 insert projects downwardly into the comminuting chamber and beyond the throat portion thereof so that its projected lower portion is radially spaced from the comminuting chamber wall. To brace this projecting portion of the sleeve, an annular support ring is positioned in the gap to bridge the space between the chamber wall and the sleeve. Means are provided for unifying these parts in a relatively rigid assembly providing good lateral support for the support sleeve, to hold it in substantially fixed circular shape. An elastomeric gasket is desirably interposed in the gap above the ring to substantially fill the space between the ring and the top shoulder of the comminuting chamber. Deforming pressure is then imposed upon the gasket to create sealing pressure between the gasket, the wall of the chamber and the wall of the sleeve, thus to seal the gap against liquid penetration and also to damp noise and vibration which occurs during comminuting action.

The plastic sleeve carries tracks for cam fingers on a stopper having a two-stage closure or valve and in which fingers actuate the grinder motor switch in both directions of stopper rotation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

Drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken through a waste disposer embodying the present invention and showing the stopper in its drain position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross section similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the stopper in its motor start position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but showing the stopper in its seal position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross section similar to that shown in FIG. 4 but showing the cam actuated fingers of the stopper in the motor start position.

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view in spaced apart relation of the stopper, plastic sleeve insert and support ring, portions being broken away and shown in cross section.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 99 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the stopper showing the legends inscribed on the stopper handle and giving directions as to its use.

Description of the preferred embodiment Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein dis-closed merely exemplity the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The waste disposer, generally indicated by the reference character 15, has a stainless steel wall construction similar to that shown in our copending United States patent application Ser. No. 602,727, filed Dec. 19, 1966. The comminuting chamber comprises a cylindrical body portion 16 having a thin stainless steel wall surmounted by a cylindrical cap 14 of somewhat smaller diameter than body 16. Cap 14 has a thin wall made of stainless steel and including a relatively narrow cylindrical walled throat 17 connected to the relatively wide cylindrical body 16 by a transverse annular shoulder 18 having its peripheral edge clinched at 19 about an out-turned flange on the wall 16. Shoulder 18 and wall 16 form a right angle at the junction between the throat and body portion of the comminuting chamber.

The disposer 15 is suspended from a sink basin 22 on a swivel bracket of the type shown in United States Patent 3,025,007. This construction includes a drain collar 23 which has an out-turned flange 24 which seats in a downwardly relieved portion 25 of the basin 22. At its lower end, the collar 23 is turned inwardly somewhat to form a shoulder 26. Collar 23 is also provided with a circumferential groove 27 to receive a snap ring 28 by which an upper connector member 31 is supported. Upper connector member 31 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced inclined cam ribs 32 which cooperate with similar series of cam follower ribs 33 on a lower connector member 34. Suspension ring or gasket 35 is clamped between the two members 32, 34. Gasket 35 is made of elastomeric material and provides a floating support for the comminutor chamber. The chamber cap 14 has an out-turned flange 36 on throat wall 17 which is lmbedded in a corresponding groove in the gasket 35.

the batch-type disposer is provided with a grinder motor control switch 37. In the disclosed embodiment of the in vention, switch 37 is mounted adjacent the throat of the disposer on a nipple 38 extending through wall 16 and sealed thereto :by the elastorneric gasket 39.

Switch 37 has an actuating plunger 42 which is movable axially through a threaded switch support stud 41 which screws into the nipple 38, thus to dispose the plunger 42 in the range of movement of the cam actuated fingers on the stopper, as will hereinafter be described.

Cam tracks 44, provided for the guidance of the stopper cam fingers, are formed in a horizontal plane on the inner face of a plastic insert sleeve 43. The plastic sleeve insert is desirably made of a low moisture absorbing thermoplastic resin such as Delrin acetal resin, or nylon.

Sleeve 43 is formed in an injection mold in which the tracks 44, ears 50, bridge 62 and guide lug 63 are formed integrally therewith. Sleeve 43 is generally cylindrical in shape and has an uppermost band portion 45 which is disposed in close fitting relation to the throat wall 17 of cap 14, thus to receive direct lateral support therefrom. Sleeve 43 further comprises a lowermost band 46, slightly thicker than band 45, and which projects downwardly into the comminuting chamber and below the level of the annular shoulder 18 (see FIG. 7). A small shoulder 48 is formed at the junction of bands 45, 46 to define the seated position of the sleeve 43.

The downwardly projecting band portion 46 of the plastic sleeve insert 43 is accordingly spaced radially from wall 16 of the comminuting chamber. The cam tracks 44 are on the inner face of band portion 46 which is thus unsupported laterally.

Annular support ring 47 is provided to laterally brace the band portion 46 of the plastic sleeve insert 43, thus holding the sleeve in perfect circular shape. Ring 47 is desirably fabricated of metal. It has an outer edge in close proximity to the wall 16 of the comminuting chamber and an inner edge in close proximity to the wall 46 of the sleeve 43 (FIG. 7), thus to bridge the gap between the sleeve and the wall 16.

The band portion 46 of sleeve 43 is provided on its outer face with a circumferentially spaced series of anchor ears 50 (three in the disclosed embodiment). These are also formed in the injection mold unitarily with the sleeve 43. Ears 50 have vertical bores 51 which align with tapped holes 52 in upwardly ofiset pad portions 53 of the ring 47.

The annular shoulder 18 of the chamber is also provided with openings 54 aligned with the ear bores 51 and tapped holes 52. Accordingly, the comminuting chamber, sleeve 43 and ring 47 can be, and are, clamped together in a unitary, inherently strong box section assembly by a series of screws 55, as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. The reason for upwardly offsetting pad portions 53 of the ring is to provide pockets at the underside of the ring 47 in which the ends of screws 55 are recessed.

In order to seal the gap aforesaid, and to further damp and absorb vibrations and noise, an elastomeric sealing gasket or ring 56 of substantial cross section surrounds the band portion 46 of the sleeve 43 and is interposed between the shoulder 18 of the comminuting chamber and the support ring 47. Ring 56 is provided with relief voids 57 so that when the screws 55 are tightened, the ring 56 may more readily deform laterally to apply sealing pressure against the wall 16 and against the sleeve 43, thus to seal and preclude entrance of water into the space between the sleeve and the chamber wall.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the undersurface of the cam tracks 44 are provided with locking recesses 60 into which correspondingly shaped, inwardly projecting locking lugs 61 on the support ring 47 fit, thus to key the ring 47 to the sleeve 43. This structure provides a positive and mechanical interlock between the ring and sleeve, thus to better enable the ring to brace the sleeve 43 and resist deforming forces which may be imposed upon the sleeve during manipulation of the stopper, loading of waste into the chamber and grinding large bones, etc.

Also integrally molded on the sleeve 43 is a bridge 62 (FIGS. 1 and 8) spaced slightly above the level of the cam tracks 44 and beneath which the switch plunger 42 projects, thus to guard the switch plunger from inadvertent actuation during the feeding of waste thereto. Diametrically opposite to the bridge 62 the sleeve 43 is provided with another inward projection or guide lug 63 which coacts with the cam track 44 at that side of the sleeve to guide the cam fingers of the stopper in their rotative movement.

Ring 47 also has a downwardly deformed saddle 68 which seats against the switch plunger seal 39, as shown in FIG. 1.

The stopper, indicated generally by reference character 64, embodies a two-stage valve and closure plate assembly, including support plate 65 which has a peripheral gasket 66 which seats on the shoulder 26 of the collar 23. This seals the outer periphery of the valve plate 65. Annular plate 65 is fixed after it is thus positioned. The center portion of valve plate 65 is open at 67 to provide a water port. Port 67 may be closed by the second stage valve or closure plate 70. Valve plate 70 is mounted above annular plate 65 on a stem 71 which is supported for vertical movement on a central bearing 72 of a support spider 73 which spans across the port opening 67 in annular plate 65.

The upper end of stem 71, above central disk valve 70, is provided with a manipulating handle 74. The lower end of stem 71, below the valve plate 65, is provided with another support spider 75 on which switch actuating cam fingers 76 are carried. Spider 75 comprises an inverted U-shaped bracket 77, the fingers 76 constituting out-turned ends of parallel bracket arms 77.

Cam fingers 76 are provided with inclined or beveled cam shoulders 80 at both leading and trailing ends of the fingers 76 with respect to both clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation of the handle 74, thus to actuate switch plunger 42 in either direction of rotation. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the switch plunger 42 is shown depressed in a start position of the stopper.

Each finger 76 is also provided with a central stop 81 which contacts the side of the switch plunger 42, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, thus to define a definitive start position of the stopper.

The handle 74 when turned to the position of the fingers 76 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 will release the button 42 and deenergize the grinder motor. This is the drain position of the stopper.

The distance between the central valve disk 70 and the fingers 76 is greater than the distancebetween the cam tracks 44 and the annular valve plate 65. Accordingly, when the cam fingers 76 are on the tracks 44, valve plate 70 will be elevated above valve plate 65, thus to open wide the port 67, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, if the handle 74 is rotated to align the fingers 76 with the gaps 82 between the tracks 44, the handle 74 may be pushed down, as shown in FIG. 3, thus to seal valve plate 70 against valve plate 65 and close port 67. To insure good sealing contact, valve disk 70 is provided with a peripheral rubber gasket 83. In the stopper position shown in FIG. 3, the sink may be filled with water. The gaps 82 may be regarded as circumferential interruption in the cam tracks 44.

The sequence of stopper actuation is indicated in the legends on the handle 74, as shown in FIG. 10. To seal the sink drain, the handle is pushed completely in. To drain the sink, the handle is lifted of an inch and turned right or left, thus to support the fingers 76 on the cam tracks 44. To start the disposer, the handle is turned fully right or left, thus to actuate the switch plunger 42.

We claim:

1. In a batch-type waste disposer having a comminuting chamber with a waste entry throat, a grinder motor control switch mounted adjacent said throat, a plastic cam track sleeve insert in the throat and a stopper insertable in said throat and having a switch operating cam guided for movement on said cam track, the improvement for mounting said plastic sleeve insert in a comminuting chamber having a narrow throat portion and a wider body wall portion radially offset from the throat, said improvement comprising:

said sleeve having an upper portion in close fitting relation to said throat portion to receive direct lateral support therefrom and a portion extending downwardly past the throat into the chamber and spaced laterally from the chamber wall to receive no direct support therefrom,

an annular support ring bridging the gap between the chamber wall and downwardly extending portions of the sleeve insert,

said ring having an outer edge in close fitting relation to said chamber Wall and an inner edge in close fitting relation to the sleeve to brace said downwardly extending portions of the sleeve insert from the chamber wall.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the chamber has a substantially right angle corner at the junction of the throat and chamber wall, said corner including an annular shoulder in vertically spaced relation to said support ring and means to unify the ring shoulder and sleeve in a laterally stable assembly.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said plastic insert sleeve has anchor ears extending laterally into said gap and between the shoulder and ring, said means cmprising screws interconnecting the said shoulder, ears and ring.

4. The device of claim 2 in which there is an elastomeric gasket in said gap to substantially fill the space between the shoulder and ring and provide a seal therefor.

5. The device of claim 1 in which the lower edge of the plastic sleeve insert is provided with recesses, said ring being provided with lugs which interfit within said recesses to key the ring and sleeve together.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the switch operated cam on said stopper has cam shoulders inclined in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions of stopper rotation for actuation of said switch in both said directions of stopper rotation.

7. The device of claim 1 in which said cam tracks are substantially horizontal whereby the stopper is turned in a horizontal plane in the course of cam actuating the switch.

8. In a batch-type waste disposer having a comminuting chamber, a waste inlet throat having cam tracks, a grinder motor control switch mounted adjacent said throat, and a stopper insertable in said throat and having a switch operating cam guided for movement on said cam tracks, the improvement in said stopper comprising: an annual valve plate having an outer edge sealed against the throat and which remains thus sealed at all times that the stopper is in the throat,

said annular plate having a central opening for passage of liquid therethrough,

a valve stem support and guide bearing spider spannin g across said opening,

a central disk valve of smaller diameter than the said first annular valve plate,

said disk valve being mounted on said stem for movement vertically therewith in said spider bearing for selectively opening and closing the opening in the annular port,

a cam support spider mounted on the lower end of said stem below the annular valve plate and having outwardly projecting cam fingers ridable on said throat cam tracks, and a handle connected to said stem and by which the cam fingers are rotatable into camming engagement with said switch,

the distance between the central disk valve and the cam fingers being greater than the distance between said tracks and said annular plate whereby the central disk valve is in open position when the cam fingers ride on the cam tracks.

9. The device of claim 8 in which said cam tracks are interrupted circnmferentially, said cam fingers on the stem aligning with said interruptions in one position of the handle whereby the handle may be depressed to move the cam fingers down through the cam track interruptions and bring the central disk valve into sealing engagement with the annular valve plate.

10. The device of claim 8 in which said cam fingers have cam shoulders inclined in both clockwise and counterclockwise direction of stopper rotation for actuation of said switch in both said directions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,477,686 8/1949 Coss 241 425 X 2,805,826 9/1957 Brezosky 241-1005 2,819,916 1/1958 Woodson 241-1005 2,860,836 11/1958 Jordan 241-46 X 2,917,246 12/1959 Wieczorek 241 32.5 2,961,172 11/1960 Wieczorek et al. 241-325 3,025,007 3/1962 Wieczorek 241-1005 3,084,877 4/1963 Bebinger 24146 HARRISON L. HINSON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 241--46, 145, 257 

